Catching Up in February

February has been bittersweet.  Back from an amazing research trip to Miami, I was looking forward to celebrating my birthday back home from home in New York when it was swallowed by Nemo.  Still I can’t complain and was beyond grateful that my friends were still willing to celebrate with me against all sense.  I was lucky not to have any damage, though it is a reminder that recovery is ongoing for my neighbors.  If you haven’t already seen it, Zac and Cat Overman have put together All Hands on Deck, an e-book to benefit Restore Red Hook.  From Baked to Cacao Prieto to the Ball Field’s El Olomega, it’s a great collection of recipes for a good cause and – as they’d say in Sweden – så Brooklyn.

If this Valentine’s Day was a disappointment then the this story between Edmundo Desnoes and Felicia Rosshandler may restore your faith.  If not, then there are these Lotte Reiniger’s fairy tales to swoon over.

For down to earth food stories, the Guardian asks if vegans stomach the unpalatable truth about quinoa?.  A straightforward question with no easy answers.  Epicurious features a day in the life in the kitchen of Cómodo, the Soho restaurant by supper clubbers Tamy Rolfe and Felipe Donnelly.  I profiled them as well this past January for The Latin Kitchen.  Diner’s Journal goes back to the future, in the kitchen and reports on restaurants turning camera shy. Food Republic has 26 Reasons to be blown away by Spain and puts together an amazing wine pairing chart.  Serious Eats tries every arepa at Caracas Arepa Bar so you don’t have to – but then you might want to anyway.